Pakistan concerned over plight of Muslim minority in Myanmar

Pakistan on Tuesday expressed serious concern for the plight of the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar and called for peaceful existence of all communities in the country.

The UN General Assembly in December last year passed a resolution, showing "serious concern" over the government's treatment of the Rohingyas and said the international community was united in promoting change in Myanmar's treatment of its minorities.

"The government of Pakistan has been consistently expressing deep concern at the plight of the minority Muslim community in Myanmar. The current displacement of a large number of Muslims, who are adrift on boats in the Indian Ocean, without access to food and drinking water, is worrisome," the foreign ministry said.

"Pakistan strongly believes that peaceful coexistence of all communities in Myanmar, with provision of fundamental rights like citizenship, freedom to practice religion, education and security, is essential for peace, progress and prosperity of the country," Xinhua news agency quoted a ministry statement as saying.

The foreign ministry said at the 28th session of Human Rights Council in March 2015 that Pakistan in its capacity as Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Group Coordinator for Human Rights and Humanitarian Issues in UN, stressed the need for Myanmar government to grant citizenship and other rights to Rohingya Muslims.

Pakistan is also supporting an OIC resolution titled "The Situation of the Muslim Community in Myanmar", which will be presented to the Council of Foreign Ministers on May 27-28, 2015 in Kuwait. It urges the authorities of Myanmar to take all necessary measures to restore stability and launch a comprehensive reconciliation process in Rakhine State.

Advisor to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz, addressed a letter to the OIC secretary general this month, urging the Council of Foreign Ministers to take all necessary measures during the forthcoming Council of Foreign Ministers meeting for the rescue and rehabilitation of displaced Rohingya Muslims.

He will also be taking up the issue with the OIC ministers during the Council of Foreign Ministers' session so as to evolve a common position among the member states, the foreign ministry said.